The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-04-19
THE COLOR QUESTION.
ADDRESS AND RESOLUTIONS AT
MEETING OF THE
Negroes Mutual Protective Assecia-
tiOB, Of Memphis, Held at Avery
Chapel Last Might.

At meeting of the Negro Mutual
Protective Association OF Memphis,
held at Avery Chapel April 18th, the
following address and resolutions were
adopted:
We hold it to be a self evident prop
osition that with freedom and eniran-
chisement there comes to a people for.
merly enslsved the imperative duty of
assuming with the utmost ardor the
duties OF patriotic citizenship. And
not less is 1t duty to pursue and to
claim the full rights and privileges
which pertain in common to the CHI.
zens of great republic.
At great convention at Wor-
cester, Mass, in 1854, Mr.. Sum-
ner said: sit is our duty to unite
all departments in the national gov.
eminent and all departments in
the State government openly, actively
and petpstuslly on the side of free.
dom. The slave power must be laid
on Its back" The American people
are enjoying today, in great measure,
the triumph oil civil liberty which the
venerated statesman's words fore
Swallowed. But as slavery was deep
rooted and remorseless in its exactions
of eubmissi on on the part of the slave,
and acquiescence on the part of the
ration, so do we find caste prejudices
aud distinctions fastened in the minds
of many of the white race. Consider
ing the cause, the effect is not sur
prisipg. A great political party
was devoted with intense zna to the
idea of defending and perpetuating at
all hazards the system OF negro slav-
cry. At length, retresting sullenly
from its position, 1t failed not to OPP
pose at every step the inevitable free
dom and Acknowledgement OF the me-
gro. Learning, eloquence, wit, sar-
cssm and every act of misanthropiC
device was employed to es ablish the
doctrine of the natural inferiolity" OF
the race emerging from bondage and
the right of the superior race" to
keep the other forever in a ssrvile
and menisl condition. Thus we &C.
Count for the frequent exhibitions OF
childish fear lest the negrs shall
gain a footing OF social equality,
with his unwilling white neighbor.
On the other hand, we should have
taken it as granted thht the culture
and intelligence of the whites would
come to the re cue and cradle them
to distinguish between social relations
and those rights and privileges which
men may share in common, with no
reference to the social status OF any.
The poorest and most i'll taIate white
msn is not denied these privileges,
unless his conduct or appearance in
some way render him personally OBJ
noxious Knowing, therefore and feel
ing the injustice and wrong perpetra'-
ed upon our people In various pub ic
places and conveyances, We note with
profound pleasure and hopefulness
every sign Of the breaking away Of
tn ese unreasonable prejudices The
people of the South, when losing all
they had staked in the issues OF the
late war, we're surprised at the mag
nsnimity of the Union commander,
and the generous spirit of many of the
most jealous in wagipg the war for the
USioB. Il is Tot doubted that had
Mr.. Lincoln lived he would have
proved most generous friend OF the
South in the effort to rebuild the
fortunes of a desolated country.
Have We not reason to appeal
likewise TO the intelligence and
manhood OF the other race, and
ssk them to allow prejudices and
caste distinctions to give way to nobler
and more humane sentiment In our
struggle 10 overcome the ignorance
and other disabilities which come to
us as the heritage of the past, may not
the weak confidently appeal to the
strong? Among any people the Gull
tured and intelligent mould the
thought and control the public seuti-
ment of that people; hence we make
our appeal to those who should be
aole to rise above the Darrowness
which may characterize the minds OF
the masses. And furthermore, we
deem it duty to take special notice
OF the recent occurrence at Brming.
ham, Ala, in which the opposite sides
OF tbfb great question were brought
into contrast, and the principle for
which we contend was nobly main
tanned by the Hon. John Sherman, OF
Ohio. Therefore, be 1t
Resolved, That the manly and States
man like conduct OF Senator Sherman
inIthe case cited above is worthy Of
special notice by US and by our peo-
pie throughout the nation.
Resolped, That when he promptly re-
fused to be made party to q narrow
and foolish pre- judiCe by which it was
intended to debar colored men from
calling in common with others uron
a distinguish ed statesman at public
hotel in Birmingham, q Citing rebuke
was given to the unreasonable prsju'
dice which prompted the drawing Of
the color line ON that occasion.
Resolved, That we hereby convey
through the public press to Senator
Sh rmsn, in the name OF our whole
people, orr grateful recognition of his
manly and Christian example in
recognizing and defending the rights
OF manhood against caste distinction.
Resolved further, That we rejoice in
the repeated decisions Of the National